Typographical machine



A ril 8 1924- Filed July 29 1922 2 Sheew Sheet 1 INVENTOR W A ORNEYS April 8 1924.

D. S. KENNEDY TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE iled July 29 1922. 2 Sheets-Sheet-Z mynn'on Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID S. KENNEDY, OF. BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINO- TYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE;

Application filed July 29, 1922. Serial No. 578,295.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, DAVID S. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the .county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typographical Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. I

This invention relates to typographical machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthale'r No. 436,- 532, wherein circulating matrices are released .by escapements from a magazine or magazines in the order in which their characters are to appear in print. and then assembled in line, the composedline transferred to the face ofa mold,'the mold filledwith molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce'the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazine or magazines from which they started. I

In these machines, the magazines are usually mounted in such manner that they may be quickly removed and replaced by other magazines containing different matrix fonts. Before removing a magazine, however, it is customary to lock the matricestherein; in fact, this is necessary when the escapements are separated from the magazine, as other-' wise the matrices would be free to escape therefrom. Hence, the commercial machines are equipped with devices which prevent the removal of the desired magazine until the matrices have first been locked therein. In some instances, as when the magazine is lifted out of engagement with the escape ments, the locking devices are arranged to prevent the premature raising of the magazine; while, in other instances, as when the escapements are lowered out of operative relation to themagazine, the locking devices are arranged to. prevent the movement of the escapements as distinguished from that of the magazine. .In either case, the locking devices referred to are controlled and actuated by matrix locking means, which inlocking the matrices in the magazine release it for. removal. There are tWo kinds of matrix locking means 'now in use, "onebeing in the form of a detachable bar which is inserted and removed 'endwisethrough the'edge of the magazine, and the other being in the form of a permanently attached bar mounted on the magazine so as to be movable instantly to active or lnactive poslt on.

In the use 'ofeither kind of matrix looking bar,it sometimes happens that, during the process of removal and replacement of a magazine, the locking barv is withdrawn to;

an inactive position while the escapements are out of operative relation to the magazine, thus allowing the matrices to escape and causing considerable annoyance and delay; The present invention is intended to overcom the foregoing objection and provides an automatic safety device which prevents the unlockingof the matrices except when the magazine and 'escapement-s are in proper operative relation to each In the embodiment illustrated, this.

other. 7 safety device is shown in connection with a matrix locking barof the kind permanently attached to the magazine, as the objection referred to is more serious in the use of that kind of bar, owing to the fact that a slight movement of the bar will effectthe release of all of the matrices in the magazine. 'In carrying the invention into effect, specifically, the magazine is provided with spring actuated catch which ismoved into and out of engagement with the matrix locking bar (when the latter is in active position) as the escapements are moved out of and into to be understood the invention is not limited to any specific form or adaptation exceptin so far as suchlimitati'ons are specified in the claims. Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the lower portion of a magazine equipped with'the presof movement.

ent invention, certain of the parts being slightly broken away to expose the interior construction Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

i Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the magazine and escapements in separated condition and with the safety catch in action.

In the present embodiment, the magazine A containing the matrices X is removably supported upon the base frame B, while the key-operated escapernents C controlling the release of the matrices from the magazme are mounted in a bar or frame C which latter is pivotally connected to the base frame, as at C, so as to allow the escapements to be swung into and out of operative relation to the magazine to permit its removal and replacement. The escapements are held in operative relation to the magazine by a pair of spring-actuated latches L pivotally connected to the upper ends of laterally swinging arms M on the escape ment frame. Cooperating with one of the swinging arms M is a locking plate N slidable backwardly and forwardly in guideways formed in the escapement frame and provided at its rear end with a stud or pro jection N adapted to engage in a recess or aperture formed in the forward face of the swinging arm. The locking plate N is formed in its upper side with an inclined 'slot to receive the inclined stem portion O of a Z-shaped block 0 mounted to slide transversely to the right and left in corresponding guideways of the escapement frame. Due to this interconnection of the parts, the movement of theblock O to the right or left imparts a forward or backward movement to the plate N and causes the locking stud N to be engaged with or disengaged from the arm M, according to the direction A. spring P bearing at one end against a fixed portion of the escapement frame and at its opposite end against an upstanding nose Q on the block 0 tends constantly to hold the latter to the right and consequently the locking plate N rearward with its stud N engaged with the recess in the swinging arm M. The disengagement of the locking plate N from the swinging arm M is effected by a matrix locking bar, subsequently to be described, which is caused to engage the block 0 and shift it to the left against the action of the spring P. The foregoing parts are substantially the same as set forth in my prior Letters Patent No. 1,804,689, to which reference may be had if desired. This prior arrangement has been selected merely by way of example and any other arrangement capable of functioning in the desired manner might be employed in stead. In this connection, it may also be noted that only such parts as are immediately concerned with the present invention have been herein illustrated, and it will be understood that the other parts of the ma-.

chine may be as illustrated in the above patent or as embodied in any other class of machine, and this whether the machine is equipped with a single magazine or a plurality of magazines.

The matrix locking device herein illustrated is of the specific form covered by my Patent No. 1,424,917 of August 8, 1922. As fully set forth in that patent, said device is in the form of a transverse bar E permanently attached to the magazine and shift-' able longitudinally in opposite directions, means being employed to project it sidewise into the magazine when shifted to the left so as to lock the matrices against escape, and additional means being provided to withdraw it from the magazine when shifted to the right so as to permit the escape of the matrices. The first-mentioned means consists of a plurality of buttons or protuberances A carried by the magazine A and adapted to cooperate with corresponding recesses or depressions E formed in the upper side of the bar, while the second mentioned means consists of a pair of headed pins E extending upwardly from the bar and a pair of cam plates A secured to the magazine and formed with longitudinally arranged slots A wherein the pins E are slidably arranged. As these parts are fully described in the above mentioned patent, it seems unnecessary to discuss them in any further detail. However, it is pointed out that, when shifted to the left to active position, the matrix locking bar E imparts a corresponding movement to the block 0 against the action of the spring P and consequently disengages the locking plate N from the escapement supporting arm M, whereas, when shifted to the right to inactive position, the locking bar allows the block to be moved in the same direction by thespring' to effect the reengagement of the locking plate with the supporting arm. In other words, the two locking devices are arranged and operated in such manner as to permit and prevent the removal of the magazine as the matrices are locked and unlocked, respectively. It may be noted at this point that the matrix locking bar E is held in its leftmost or active position by means of a spring-actuated catch or dog F, which thus overcomes any tendency of the spring P to move the bar from such position before the escapement frame is swung down. To release the matrices, it is merely necessary to depress the catch by hand, when the locking bar may be shifted to the right to inactive position. p

Turning now to the present invention, it sometimes happens, as before stated, that the matrix locking bar is accidentally or unintentionally shifted to the right at a time when the escapements are out of operative relation to the magazine, and this notwithstanding the fact that the catch F acts normally to hold the bar in its active position. Thus, in interchanging magazines, the operator oftentimes prematurely disengages the catch F and pulls the bar E to the right before the escapement frame C is swung back and locked in operative engagement with the substitute magazine, even if the conditions are otherwise entirely favorable. In guarding against such occurrences, accordingto this invention, the magazine is provided with an automatic safety device which prevents the unlocking of the matrices unless the escapements are in operative relation to the magazine. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, such safety device is in the form of a vertically swinging plate G pivoted at the rear to the magazine by a pin G and formed at the front with a curved slot G slidably engaged with a guide pin G on the magazine, see particularly Fig. 3. Between its ends, the plate G is formed with a rectangular opening G to permit the passage therethrough of the matrix locking bar E, which latter is formed at its extreme left with a shoulder e adapted to stand just beyond the plate in the active position of the bar. Normally, or when the escapements are in operative relation to the magazine, the plate G is held in an elevated position by the engagement of its projecting portion G with the escapement frame G which latter thus locates the upper wall of the opening G above or out of path of movement of the shoulder c (Fig. 2) hen, however, the escapement frame is swung downwardly (which is only permitted when the bar E occupies its leftmost or active position), the plate G will swing downwardly with it until arrested by the engagement of the upper wall of the opening G with the locking bar alongside of the shoulder e, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper inner corner of the shoulder e is slightly bevelled to avoid any interference with the plate GQ Gravity alone might be sufficient to enable the plate G to function in the required manner, but it is preferred to employ a spring, such as the blade spring G", to depress the plate and hold it in its depressed position. lVhen thus depressed, the plate G presents a solid portion behind or to the right of the shoulder e and consequently positively locks the bar E againstmovement toward the right. When, now, the escapements are swung back into operative relation to the magazine (which will ordinarily be a substitute magazine), the plate G is elevated again by the escapement frame C and clears the shoulder e, leaving the bar E free to be shifted to the right to inactive position when released by the manual disengagement of the catch F. Accordingly, the release of the matrices is permitted or prevented according to the position of the escapement frame, or more broadly speaking, according as the magazine and escapements occupy an operative or inoperative relation to each other.

As previously stated, the foregoing improvements have been. shown merely in preferred form and by way of example and as applied to a particular style of machine, but obviously many changes and adaptations will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of'operatioiuwhat I claim is as follows:

1. In a typographical machine, the combination with a matrix magazine and a bank of escapements therefor, one of said parts being movable out of operative relation to the other, of means for locking the matrices in the magazine, and means actuated by the separating movement of the magazine and escapements for preventing the improper release of said matrix locking means.

2. In a typographical machine, the combination with a matrix magazlne and a bank of escapements therefor, one of said parts being movable into and out of operative relation to the other, of means for locking the matrices in the magazine, and means actuated by the movement. of the magazine and escapements into and out of operativev relation to. each other for permitting and preventing the release of said matrix'locking "separation of the magazine and escapements,

and an automatic safety device actuated by the separation of the magazine and escapements for preventing the improper release of the matrix locking device.

4. In atypographical machine, the combination with a matrix magazine and a bank of escapements therefor, one of said parts being movable into and out of operative relation to the other, of means for locking the matrices in the magazine, and automatic means carried by the magazine for permitting or preventing the release of the matrix locking means according as the magazine and escapements occupy an operative or inoperative relation to each other.

5. In a typographical machine, the combination with a matrix magazine and a bank of escapements therefor, one of said parts egg 1,489,533

being movable into and out of operative relation to another, of a locking device for holding said parts in operative relation, a second locking device to retain the matrices in the magazine and arranged to cooperate with the first-mentioned locking device, and

an automatic safety device carried by the magazine and acting to permit or prevent the release of the matrix locking device according as the magazine and escapements occupy an operative or inoperative relation to each other.

6. In a typographical machine, the com-- 7 In a typographical machine, the combination of a matrix magazine, a bank of escapements movable into and out of operative relation thereto, means for locking the matrices in the magazine, and automatic means carried by the magazine for permitting and preventing the release of said matrix locking means as the escapements are moved into and out of operative relation to the magazine, respectively.

8. In a typographical machine, the combination of a matrix magazine, a bank of escapements movable into and out of operative relation thereto, a locking device for holding the escapement bank in operative relation to the magazine, a second locking device to retain the matrices in the magazine and arranged to cooperate with the firstmentioned locking device, and an automatic safety device carried by the magazine and acting to permitor prevent the release of the matrix locking device according to the position of the escapement bank.

9. In a typographical machine, the com bination with a matrix magazine and a bank of escapements therefor, one of said parts being movable into and out of operative relation to the'other, of a matrix locking bar permanently attached to the magazine and shiftable to active or inactive position thereon, and an automatic safety device carried by the magazine and acting to permit or prevent the release of the matrix locking bar according as the magazine and escapements occupy an operative or inoperative relation to each other.

10. In a typographical machine, the combination with a matrix magazine and a bank of escapements therefor, one of saidparts, being movable into and out of operative ree lation to the other, of a locking device to hold said parts in operative relation, a matrix locking bar permanently attached to the'magazine and movable to active or 1nactive position thereon and arranged to 00- I operate with the first-mentioned locking de vice, and an automatic safety device carried by the magazine and acting to permit or prevent the release of the matrix locking bar occupy an operative or inoperative relation to each other.

11. In a typographical machine, the combination with a matrix magazine and a bankof escapements therefor, one of said parts being movable into and out of operative relation to the other, of a longitudinally movable matrlx locking bar carried by the magazine, and an automatic safety device also carried by the magazine and cooperating with the locking bar to prevent the improper release of the matrices, the said safety device being controlled in its action by the separating .movement of the magazine and escapements. I

12. In a typographical machine, the combination of a matrix magazine, a bank of escapements movable into and out of operative relation thereto, a pair of laterally swinging arms for supporting the escapements in operative relation to the magazine, a locking device tohold one of the supporting arms in engagement'with the magazine, a matrix locking bar carried by the magazine and arranged to cooperate with the firstmentioned locking device, and an automatic safety device also carried by the magazine and acting to prevent the improper release of the matrix locking bar.

13. The linotype magazine A provided with the matrix locking bar 15, the catch F,

and the safety device G, all operating sub-. stantially in the manner shown and described.

14. In a typographical machine, the comaccording as the magazine and escapements a 

